Matrix and assembling method for typographical composing machines



5 O A TM 7 WP 1 MN ow H P P- HILPMAN MATRIX AND ASSEMBLING METHOD FOR TYPOGRAPHICAL COMPOSING MACHINES Flled June 9, 1958 Dec. 15, 1959 ATTORNE Y United States Patent MATRIX AND ASSEMBLING METHOD FOR TYPO- GRAPHICAL COMPOSING MACHINES Paul Hilpman, Garden City, N.Y., assignor to Mergenthaler Linotype Company, a corporation of New York Application June 9, 1958, Serial No. 740,949

Claims. (Cl. 199 -32) This invention relates to typographical composing machines, such as Linotype machines of the general organization represented in US. Letters Patent to O. Mergenthaler, No. 436,532, wherein circulating matrices and expansible spacebands are composed in line in an assembling elevator under the influence of 'a constantly rotating starwheel. Aftera line is completely composed, the elevator is raised to position .theline between a pair of depending fingers of a spring actuated 'delivery slide which thereupon moves to the left in order to shift the composed line from the assembling elevator into a line transporter or so-called first elevator, and at the same time inaugurate the operation of the machine.

In these machines, the spacebands are stacked in a storage'box disposed above the assembling elevator and, when released, pass downwardly through a vertical chute into the path of the rotary starwheel which advances them in a facewise or lateral direction into the receiving end of the assembling elevator and against the tension of a line resistant finger attached to an assembler slide. The matrices also, when released, are directed into the path of the rotary starwheel and are advanced into the assembling ele ator in similar fashion.

While the above arrangement has served its purpose for many years, it nevertheless frequently happens, especially during rapid composition in modern high speed machines which are operated automatically by tape controlled mechanism, that the matrices and spacebands (particularly the latter) upon entering the assembling elevator fail to seat properly therein upon their respective horizontal supporting rails. As a result, further composition must be suspended until the disturbance is rectified. For example, matrices striking the assembling elevator at a high velocity may bounce off the elevator entirely, or may bounce ahead of the preceding matrix, 'or may bounce from the lower rail of the elevator onto the upper rail, which begins just a short distance from the receiving end of the elevator, thus causing an improper line to be formed. In addition, if the longer and thicker wedge shaped member of a descending spaceband should fail to reach its proper position in the elevator, it may and usually does retard or prevent entry thereinto of following matrices. In these instances, and in the latter case because of the absence of the last matrix or matrices that should have been composed, an imperfect slug would be produced during the machine cycle and eventually have to be replaced. Furthermore, due to the protrusion of the spaceband above the elevator, it may positively stop the upward movement of the elevator before it arrives at the line delivery station. In this instance, the offending spaceband probably would be damaged and likewise have to be repaired or discarded. Moreover, in these automatically operated machines, and through the failure of the assembling elevator to arrive at the line delivery station, the delivery slide would not be released to perform its normal line transfer function and the elevator then would be allowed to drop of its own weight until abruptly arrested by a stop element posi- I, 2,917,159 Patented Dec. 15, 1959 tioned beneath it. As a result, at least part of the composed line is jarred or shaken from the elevator and spilled over the floor.

The present invention is intended to obviate the above and other difliculties and to this end an air blast is arranged to impinge upon the matrices and spacebands as they are being composed in line on the assembling elevator, the matrices and spacebands being provided with notches or air pockets to catch the blast and augment its effect thereon.

The invention will now be more fully described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of the assembling mechanism showing the driving pulley for the inclined assembler belt, the assembling elevator, the rotary starwheel, the spaceband box, and the air blower of the present invention,

Fig. 2 is an enlarged front elevational view showing thereceiving end portion of the assembling elevator, and the air blower of the present invention.

Fig. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2, showing a notched matrix and spaceband stacked therein. 7

Referring to the drawings, particularly Figs. 1 and 2, matrices 10 and spacebands 11 after being released from their respective places of storage by operation of a keyboard (not shown), are composed in line in an assembling elevator 12 under the influence of a constantly rotating starwheel 13 and against an upstanding line resistant finger 14 of a horizontal assembler slide 15. Upon release, the matrices 10 are directed vertically downward through adjacent channels 16 onto an inclined delivery belt 19 and thence over a curved chute block 20 into the rotary path of starwheel 13. The spacebands 11 are contained in a storage box 21 and, when released, are adapted to drop endwise through a vertically disposed chute 2111 depending from the storage box and terminating directly above the starwheel 13 in spaced relation thereto. As the matrices 10 and the spacebands 11 are caused to enter the assembling elevator 12 under the stacking in- ;fluence of the starwheel 13, they obtain the necessary support therein by the engagement of their projecting ears with the corresponding supporting rails on the front and rear side walls of the elevator, i.e., either the lower rails 26, or the upper rail 27. It is the main portion of the upper rail 27 which begins just a short distance from the receiving end of the assembling elevator, and upon which some matrices, intended for assembly on the lower rails 26, may come to rest after rebounding off the lower rails or the starwheel 13.

As can be seen more clearly in Figs. 2 and 3, the above mentioned air blast is provided by an air blower 22, the mouthpiece 29 of which is fastened to the assembling elevator 12, adjacent the receiving end portion thereof, by two screws 23. The air blower comprises an air line 30 having a mouthpiece 29 integral therewith. Air under pressure is supplied to the blower 22 by a pump, not shown, through the air line 30. Since in the preferred embodiment of the invention the mouthpiece 29 is mounted on the assembling elevator, which has motion with respect to the machine frame, the air line 30 of the air blower, which connects the mouthpiece to the stationary pump, is made flexible.

The sides of the mouthpiece 29 taper from a wide opening at the exit end thereof, to a narrower crosssection at the plane in which it joins the air line. By virtue of this configuration the air emitted by the blower tends to spread out as it leaves the mouthpiece and hence the operating area of the starwheel 13 is brought within the range of the air blast. This is important in high speed composing where oft times the matrices and spacebands are delivered faster than the starwheel rotates, and

the stabilizing effect of the air blast will prevent the matrices from undesirably rebounding offthe starwheel. The front edge of the air blower mouthpiece 29 is cut off on a vertical plane. thus allowing it to be fitted flush against the assembling elevator, thereby cutting air leakage down to a minimum.

Each matrix and spaceband of the present invention is provided with a series of spaced notches or air pockets 24 along its vertical edge which is ont employed in slug casting. These notches are formed by an oblique side wall and a horizontal bottom wall in order to more effectively utilize the downwardly slanting rush of air impinging thereon. Therefore, it is the stream of high velocity air entering the air pockets of the matrices which prevent the above mentioned rebounding off the starwheel and which prevents the matrices from rebounding out of the elevator, or in front of another matrix, or onto the upper auxiliary rail 27.

As. was mentionedbefore, the lower wedge shaped portion of a composed spaceband may fail to reach its proper position, i.e., its lowermost position, due to striking the starwheel at an unfortunate time or for some other reason. The present invention makes up for such a deficiency inasmuch as the airblast forces the lower wedge down as far as it will go, while it is composed in line and moving past the air blower. above referred to are thus avoided.

The invention has been shown and described in preferred form only and by way of example, but many variations and modifications-may be made therein and in, its mode of application which will still be comprisedwithin its spirit. It is understood, therefore, that the invention is not limited to any specific embodiment, except insofar as such limitations are specified in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a typographical composing machine having circulating matrices and expansible spacebands, an assembling mechanism including, in combination, anassembling elevatorwherein the matrices and spacebands are composed in line, and means for directing a blast of air against said matrices and spacebandsafter they enter said assembling elevator in order to insure proper seating thereof in the elevator, said air blast being directed transverse to the line of travel of said matrices and spacebands in said assembling elevator during composition.

2. In a typographical composing machine of the Linotype class wherein character bearing matrices and expansible spacebands are circulated, each of said matrices and spacebands having at least one notch in its edge opposite to the edge utilized in casting, said notches being characterized bythe fact that the surface of each wall thereof is smooth and unbroken, an assembling mechanism including, in combination, an assembling elevator wherein the matrices and spacebands are composed in he; i i u es.

line, and means for directing a blast of air against the edges of said matrices and spacebands opposite to those utilized in casting after said matrices and spacebands enter said assembling elevator in order to insure proper seating thereof in the elevator said air blast being directed transverse to the line of travel of said matrices and spacebands in said assembling elevatorduring composition.

3. In a typographical composing machine of the LlHQ'.

type class, wherein character bearing matrices and expansible spacebands are circulated, each of said matrices and spacebands having at least one notch in its edge.

utilized in casting after said. matrices and spacebands enter said assembling elevator, said means including a mouthpiece adapted to direct said air blast transverse to the line of travel of said matrices and spacebands in said assembling elevator during composition and to spread said air blast over the operating portions of said rotating starwheel and the receiving end portion of said a sse1:n-

bling elevator.

4. In or for a typographical linecasting machine of the Linotype class having an assembliing elevator and means associated therewith for directing a blast of airinto the receiving end of an assembling elevator as a line is being composed therein, a plurality of circulating matrices each having at least one notch in its edge opposite to the edge utilized in casting, whereby the effect of said air blast.

on saidmatrices will be intensified, said notches being characterized by the fact that the surface of each wall thereof is smooth and unbroken.

5. In or for a. typographical linecasting machine of the Linotype class having an assembling elevator and means associated therewith for directing a blast of air into the receiving end of an assembling elevator as a line is being composed therein, a plurality of expansible spacebands comprising upper and'lower wedges, said lower wedges each having at leastone notch in its edge opposite to the edge utilized in casting, whereby the effect of said air blast on the lower wedges of said spacebands will be intensified.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 838,609 Dodge Dec. 18, 1906. 1,090,787 Lucke Mar. 17, 1914 1,883,689 Gilbert Oct. 18, 1932 2,845,170 Pma y 2 

